It has been TOO too long since we've had a really good awards/gown show. The Emmys last night cured our sartorial itch with many safe-but-gorgeous looks, and a few quirky surprises.

Our unofficial winner of the night was Brooke Shields in Badgley Mischka:

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Embellishment on the bodice, ruffles on the skirt, and a splashy-fabulous fuschia color. WINNER! She looks gorgeous.

America Ferrera wins our "Okay, if you MUST wear black" award, in a vintage gown:

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

Honestly, wearing black to these events is a bit of a cop-out, but this dress IS vintage and has an interesting style and a unique extra-long tea-length hem. She sasses it up a bit with perfect makeup and a beautiful chunky necklace. Well played, America.

Our winner in the "Pretty-pretty princess" category, Ms. Marcia Cross, wearing Elie Saab (like 80% of the other attendees):

Photo: Jason Merritt/Filmmagic

She looks even better than Amy Adams in "Enchanted", and part of me wants to plant her in my garden. I mean, if I had a garden, and the desire to plant things. I am slightly concerned about the pronounced sternum I'm seeing, although so many of these actresses claim "stress", that I'll give her a week or two to eat a few sandwiches.

In the "This dress would be fantastic if we could remove one thing" category (our blog, our categories), the stunning Vanessa Williams in Kevan Hall:

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty

If we could just un-velcro that strip of dimoniques from the dress, it would be SO pretty. They are too distracting, and take away from the drama of the floral print. They are also competing, unsuccessfully, with Williams' megawatt smile.

And now, for the quirky.

The unflappable Kyra Sedgwick has such an insanely fit body, that she can really get away with wearing just about anything. JUST about anything:

Photo: Chris Pizzillo/AP

While Kyra was sashaying down the red carpet, and posing politely for photos, a giant Swarovsky-sequined phoenix came and landed directly at second base. Her body still looks ridiculously amazing.

And a rousing "GO GIRL!" to our girl Christina Applegate, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a double mastectomy, at the age of 36. That is a lot to go through, and we're so glad to see her looking healthy and smashingly beautiful in Reem Acra.

christina applegate